JAZZ REVIEWS : SONNY ROLLINS: SWING, CALYPSO TIME

When last heard, Sonny Rollins was trying to bridge the gap between the contemporary rock feel and the hard-driving traditions the tenor saxophonist had established nearly three decades ago. Sunday night at the Palace, Rollins, working with a foursome of talented young players, abandoned such bridge-gapping notions, choosing, rather, to concentrate on brightly rhythmic swing and calypso tunes.

Unfortunately, nobody bothered to inform the theater’s sound man. As a result, the sound was so bottom heavy as to obscure individual efforts in a deafening, thundering din.

Despite that major annoyance, Rollins’ musical intentions were clear. A consistently fine player who has frequently placed himself in less than perfect situations, Rollins made his initial statement when he opened Sunday evening’s show with “I’m Old Fashioned.”

Blowing hard over the tune’s changes, Rollins explored the tune in great depth with wild improvisations while never losing the sense of the tune. Trombonist Clifton Anderson offered a neat melodic counterpoint.

Less effective were solo efforts by the other group members. Pianist Mark Soskin and bassist Bob Cranshaw took ponderous outings in a plodding tune in which trombonist Anderson had begun in a stiffly regimented fashion. Drummer Tommy Campbell was a crashing bore on “Best Wishes,” a drum feature with little musical merit.

The best group effort came on a calypso tune that recalled Rollins’ “St. Thomas.” The energetic enthusiasm was in ample evidence and Rollins swung mightily.

Rollins’ best efforts came on a ballad. While the pace of the tune was decidedly slow, the tenor saxophonist thrilled with trills and frills on his own rhythmic agenda. It was a musical tour de force, recalling precisely why Rollins remains the master jazzman.